The second day had barely broken when the area around the Blood Condensation arena south of Spirit Seeking City was already packed with people.
This arena, paved with several enormous bluestone slabs, was the central ground where the young martial artists of the prefectural city competed. In recent days, with the major factions secretly stirring things up, it had become especially lively. Many had come simply to watch the spectacle, eager to see which clan's prodigy would seize the top spot.
On a teahouse beside the arena, the Vital Essence Body had taken the form of an ordinary martial artist and stood by the railing, his gaze resting on Li Tongyuan below. The youth wore a fitted martial outfit, a family-inherited ring-pommel saber at his waist. He stood tall and straight; compared to the timid boy he had been when taken in several days ago, his eyes now brimmed with sharpness and confidence.
"Go. Prove yourself to the world." The Vital Essence Body's voice carried a hint of indifference, though a trace of expectation lay hidden within.
Li Tongyuan bowed deeply in thanks, his forehead touching the ground. "This disciple will not fail your expectations!"
As he rose, his Blood Qi silently began to circulate. Thirteen strands of Qi and Blood flowed through his meridians like crimson ribbons. Though they had not fully burst forth, they had already made quite a few Blood Condensation Realm martial artists nearby feel a grave pressure.
No one knew that in these few short days, Li Tongyuan's progress had been nothing short of heaven-defying. The bottleneck that had trapped him at twelve strands of Blood Condensation for so long had been shattered within days under the nourishment of the Vital Essence Body's endless supply of pure vital essence. He had condensed a thirteenth strand